John Gillette

American Water Ski Educational Foundation Award of Distinction 2008

Inducted into the Florida Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame 2008

John Gillette of Lakeland and now residing in Charlotte, North Carolina was a longtime innovator, administrator, competitor and promoter of barefoot water skiing. He is credited with being the first American to execute a backward toehold deepwater start. He invented or advocated several significant rules changes that eventually became part of the World Barefoot Council’s Official Rule Book. He was elected as the first vice president of the American Barefoot Club in 1978 and served as president from 1980 to 1981. He was the team captain of the 1978 and 1980 U.S. Elite Barefoot Water Ski Team, and was the coach of the 1982 team. He has retired from competitive water skiing.